View source for Guatemalan quetzal

{{Short description|Currency of Guatemala}}
{{Infobox currency
| local_name = quetzal guatemalteco
| replaced_currency = [[Guatemalan peso]]
| local_name_lang = es
| image_1 = File:Billete Q1 Anverso.jpg
|image_width_1=
|image_title_1=Q1 banknote displaying [[José María Orellana]]
| image_2 = 
| iso_code = GTQ
| date_of_introduction = 1925
| using_countries = {{flag|Guatemala}}
| inflation_rate = 6.2%
| inflation_source_date = [https://www.focus-economics.com/country-indicator/guatemala/inflation/#:~:text=Consumer%20price%20inflation%20in%20Guatemala,2022%20average%20figure%20was%206.9%25. Link]
| subunit_ratio_1 = {{frac|1|100}}
| subunit_name_1 = [[centavo]]
| symbol = Q
| plural = quetzales
| used_coins =  5, 10, 25, 50 centavos, 1 quetzal
| used_banknotes = 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 quetzales
| printer = {{ill|Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych|pl|lt=Polish Security Printing Works}}
| printer_website = {{URL|www.pwpw.pl|{{lang|pl|Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych|i=no}}}}
| issuing_authority = [[Bank of Guatemala]]
| issuing_authority_website = {{URL|www.banguat.gob.gt}}
}}
The '''quetzal''' ({{IPA|es|keˈtsal|local}}; [[ISO 4217|code]]: '''GTQ''') is the [[currency]] of [[Guatemala]], named after the [[List of national birds|national bird]] of Guatemala, the [[resplendent quetzal]]. In ancient [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] culture, the quetzal bird's tail feathers were used as currency. It is divided into 100 ''centavos,'' or ''len'' (plural ''lenes'') in Guatemalan [[slang]]. The plural is ''quetzales''.

==History==
The quetzal was introduced in 1925 during the term of President [[José María Orellana]], whose image appears on the obverse of the one-quetzal bill. It replaced the [[Guatemalan peso]] at the rate of 60 pesos = 1 quetzal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/en/currency+and+bills/Tran.Resena.htm|title = Banco de Guatemala}}</ref> Until 1987, the quetzal was pegged to and domestically equal to the [[United States dollar]]. The currency was named after the country's famous bird, the [[Quetzal]], which is also on the [[flag of Guatemala]].

==Coins==
[[File:GCA Muenzen.JPG|thumb|400px|Coins of the quetzal]]
In 1925, [[coin]]s in denominations of 1, 5, 10 centavos, {{1/4}}, {{1/2}} and 1 quetzal were introduced, although the majority of the 1 quetzal coins were withdrawn from circulation and melted. {{1/2}} and 2 centavo coins were added in 1932. Until 1965, coins of 5 centavos and above were minted in 72% silver. {{1/2}} and 1 quetzal coins were reintroduced in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

The coins currently in circulation are disc-shaped and include Guatemala's [[Emblem of Guatemala|national coat of arms]] on the obverse.<ref name=":0" /> The coins, and their reverse designs are:
*5 centavos: the [[Ceiba pentandra|tree of liberty]] and the motto "''LIBRE CREZCA FECUNDO'' (''Grow free and fecund)"<ref name=":0" />''
*10 centavos: a monolith from [[Quiriguá]]<ref name=":0" />
*25 centavos: an indigenous woman,<ref name=":0" /> [[Concepción Ramírez]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.entremundos.org/revista/uncategorized/the-woman-on-the-25-cent-coin-and-other-voices-from-guatemalas-genocide/?lang=en|title=The woman on the 25-cent coin and other voices from Guatemala's genocide|date=2017-08-23|website=EntreMundos|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref>
*50 centavos: [[Lycaste skinneri|Monja Blanca]], the national flower<ref name=":0" />
*1 quetzal: a stylized [[Peace symbols|dove]], the word "''Paz (Peace)''", and the date “''[[Guatemalan Peace Process 1994-1996|29 de Diciembre de 1996]] (29 December 1996)''”<ref name=":0" />

==Banknotes==
The first banknotes were issued by the [[Central Bank of Guatemala]] in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 100 quetzales, with {{1/2}} quetzal notes added in 1933. In 1946, the Bank of Guatemala took over the issuance of [[Banknote|paper money]], with the first issues being overprints on notes of the Central Bank.  Except for the introduction of 50 quetzal notes in 1967, the denominations of banknotes remained unchanged until {{1/2}} and 1 quetzal coins replaced notes at the end of the 1990s.

In the top-right corner of the obverse face of each banknote, the value is displayed in [[Maya numerals|Mayan numerals]], representing Guatemala's cultural history.

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|+Banknotes in circulation<ref name=":0">[http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/en/currency%20and%20bills/Monedas%20y%20Billetes%20Translation.htm&e=18108 banguat.gob.gt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607011018/http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=%2Fen%2Fcurrency+and+bills%2FMonedas+y+Billetes+Translation.htm&e=18108 |date=2007-06-07 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/Publica/monedasybilletes/ilustraciones-denominaciones.htm&e=119361 |title=banguat.gob.gt |access-date=2015-02-14 |archive-date=2022-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519180848/http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/Publica/monedasybilletes/ilustraciones-denominaciones.htm&e=119361 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
!colspan=2| Image !!rowspan=2| Value !!rowspan=2| Main Color !!colspan=2| Description !!rowspan=2|Remark
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse !! Obverse !! Reverse
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ100BothSides.jpg|200px]]
| Q1
| Green
| [[José María Orellana]], President of Guatemala during the Currency Reform that introduced the Quetzal as the official currency.
| Main building of the [[Banco de Guatemala|Central Bank of Guatemala]]
| Reintroduced as a [[polymer banknote]] on August 20, 2007. A Commemorative paper note was introduced in 2024 to celebrate 100 years of the quetzal.
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ00500BothSides.jpg|200px]]
| Q5
| Violet
| [[Justo Rufino Barrios]], Co-Leader of the Liberal Revolution of 1871.
| Education allegory
|Changed to a [[polymer banknote]] on November 14, 2011<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/publica/5/5.htm |title=banguat.gob.gt |access-date=2011-11-15 |archive-date=2021-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205052200/http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/publica/5/5.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Subsequently reintroduced on a cotton paper substrate.
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ01000BothSides.jpg|200px]]
| Q10
| Red
| [[Miguel García Granados]], Deputy and Main Leader of the Liberal Revolution of 1871.
| Picture from the [[Guatemalan National Assembly]] of 1872
|
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ02000BothSides.jpg|200px]]
| Q20
| Blue
| [[Mariano Gálvez]], State Leader of the State of Guatemala, within the United Provinces of Central America. 
| Signing of the declaration of [[Act of Independence of Central America|Central American independence]]
|
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ05000BothSides.jpg|200px]]
| Q50
| Orange
| {{ill|Carlos O. Zachrisson|es}}, finance minister from 1923 to 1926
| Allegory of the importance of coffee to the country
|
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ10000BothSides.jpg|200px]]
| Q100
| Sepia
| [[Francisco Marroquín]], First Bishop of the Realm of Guatemala, and Founder of the [[Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala]]
| First university building in [[Antigua Guatemala]]
|
|-
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ20000BothSides.jpg|200px]] 
| Q200
| Aqua
| [[Sebastian Hurtado]], {{ill|Mariano Valverde|es}}, {{ill|German Alcántara|es}}.  Three [[marimba]] composers.  
| Allegory of the [[marimba]], the national instrument, Musical score of ''La Flor del Café'' by Alcántara. 
|A new version of the Q200 note was introduced in 2022 and features a SPARK security patch.
|-
|colspan=7|{{Standard banknote table notice}}
|}

The Bank of Guatemala has introduced a [[polymer banknote]] of 1 quetzal on August 20, 2007, followed by a 5 quetzal polymer banknote on November 14, 2011. Both the 1 and 5 quetzal notes are once again on a paper substrate as of 2024.

==Out of circulation==
The fifty-cent quetzal bill is out of circulation, but it still has value.
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|+Fifty-Cent Quetzal Banknote 
|-
!colspan=2| Image !!rowspan=2| Value !!rowspan=2| Main Color !!colspan=2| Description !!rowspan=2|Remark
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse !! Obverse !! Reverse
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan=2|[[File:GuatemalanBanknoteQ050BothSides.jpg|200px]]
| Q0.50
| Brown
| [[Tecún Umán]], Prince and Commander-and-Chief of the Quiche Realm during the Spanish Conquest.
| [[Tikal]]'s [[Tikal Temple I|Temple I]]
| No longer in circulation
|-
|colspan=7|{{Standard banknote table notice}}
|}

== Exchange rate ==
{{Exchange rate|GTQ|MXN}}

==See also==
* [[Economy of Guatemala]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.banguat.gob.gt Banco de Guatemala] {{in lang|es}}
* [http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/en/currency%20and%20bills/Monedas%20y%20Billetes%20Translation.htm&e=18108 Images of Guatemalan coins] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103602/http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=%2Fen%2Fcurrency%20and%20bills%2FMonedas%20y%20Billetes%20Translation.htm&e=18108 |date=2018-08-14 }} from the Banco de Guatemala page
* [http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/publica/monedasybilletes/ilustraciones-denominaciones.htm Banco de Guatemala currency in circulation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001130921/http://www.banguat.gob.gt/inc/ver.asp?id=/Publica/monedasybilletes/ilustraciones-denominaciones.htm |date=2015-10-01 }}
* [http://www.bis-ans-ende-der-welt.net/Guatemala-B-En.htm The banknotes of Guatemala] {{in lang|en|de|fr}}

{{Guatemala topics}}
{{Currencies of the Americas}}
{{Currency signs}}
{{Portal bar|Central America|Guatemala|Money|Numismatics}}

[[Category:Currencies of Guatemala]]
[[Category:Currencies introduced in 1925]]
[[Category:Currency symbols]]
[[Category:Circulating currencies]]